do you or your partner suffer from erectile dysfunction is erectile dysfunction affecting your sex life if so stay tuned as we'll be talking about the most common causes of erectile dysfunction and how to treat it welcome to jhp medical i'm dr hart pinto and i'm going to tell you all about erectile dysfunction and how to treat it if you like this video remember to subscribe and click the notification bell so you don't miss out on any of our latest videos so what is erectile dysfunction erectile dysfunction also known as impotence is the inability to obtain
an erection and sustain it for long enough to engage in sexual intercourse erectile dysfunction is a very common condition amongst men particularly once you reach the age of 40. in most cases the episodes are caused by stress anxiety lack of sleep or excessive alcohol intake for some men these can be a single episode which can self-resolve and are often nothing to worry about however if you find that you or your partner are regularly suffering from erectile dysfunction this may indicate a more concerning medical or psychological problem in some cases erectile dysfunction may also be associated
with other medications you may be prescribed so how will my doctor find the cause of my erectile dysfunction during your consultation your doctor will take a detailed history regarding your erectile dysfunction symptoms a number of factors can also increase your risk for the development of erectile dysfunction and each factor may need to be addressed individually lifestyle factors which includes being overweight or having a history of smoking excessive alcohol intake or illicit drug use your doctor will also want to review your mental health they'll look at your anxiety and your stress which can dramatically influence your
ability to get and sustain an erection for some patients having a hormonal imbalance can play a role such as having a low level of testosterone or suffering from diabetes some prescribed medications can also cause erectile dysfunction such as antidepressants and some antipsychotic medication certain blood pressure medications and testosterone blocking medications which are commonly used for prostate issues if you have a history of cardiovascular disease this may also indicate that the blood vessels supplying the penis are also affected if you've had a history of injury or surgery to the genital area or any conditions which may
affect the nerve supplying the penis your doctor will also need to examine you and your genitals you'll need to be assessed for signs of hormonal imbalances nerve problems along with measurements of your blood pressure and heart rate to assess your cardiovascular health will i need any investigations well your doctor depending on the presentation and findings from your examination may consider performing some blood tests these tests may help identify hormonal imbalances such as low testosterone levels or even help to identify other conditions contributing to your erectile dysfunction such as diabetes so what treatment is available for
erectile dysfunction okay your doctor has diagnosed you with erectile dysfunction what can be done to help thankfully treatments for the management of erectile dysfunction are effective in the vast majority of patients however it is important to recognize that the management of each patient's erectile dysfunction is likely to be different and will be dependent on the individual cause where stress and anxiety of the precipitating cause you may benefit from psychosexual therapy here you'll be given the correct tools to manage your anxiety and stress levels which in turn should improve your mental wellbeing but also the symptoms
of erectile dysfunction your doctor if relevant for you will discuss the importance of improving lifestyle factors such as reducing alcohol intake stopping smoking and avoiding drug misuse keeping your weight at a healthy level can also be beneficial and either a dietitian or your own doctor can help you with this where a medical course can be identified your doctor will advise you on the required steps to manage these conditions for example the use of medications to control your blood pressure and cholesterol to improve your cardiovascular health which in turn improves your symptoms of erectile dysfunction so
what about medications you've probably heard of viagra also known as sildenafil perhaps one of the most famous medications to treat erectile dysfunction this is a medication that's available on prescription from your doctor or by your local pharmacy these medications are taken prior to intercourse and are effective in around three quarters of patients however we would advise against purchasing this medication online as there are many websites selling counterfeit products can i use a vacuum pump vacuum pumps work by sucking blood into the penis and there may be an option for a patient who have not had
great success with the medications however it can be a little bit traumatic and can cause a little bit of bruising are there any surgical options surgical options of course do exist in the form of penile implants however they come with surgery and their own risks this option usually is reserved for those patients where other treatments have failed if this is something that you wish to pursue and you've tried all the other options you should discuss this with your regular doctor they'll probably suggest a referral to a specialist at that point thank you for watching we
hope you have found this information useful if you've enjoyed this video why not subscribe click the bell or write down below of course this video does not provide any individual medical advice and is intended for informational purposes only do not consider this as a substitute for professional medical advice diagnosis or treatment please don't ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you've heard here if you believe you may have a medical emergency immediately call your doctor or ambulance service thanks for watching see you next time you